I could use some help learning to shoot a hill-style bow...frustrated. I have a beautiful David Miller longbow (66", 43@27) that I love. It's so much different from my other longbows that are RF/DF that I shoot very well. I think because of the straight grip, I am not comfortable with holding it any of the ways I try It's loud, vibrating, and no matter what arrows I am shooting, they just don't fly straight. I have the brace height at the suggested 5.5 and have raised and lowered, just with no success. I've tried woodies, carbon...doesn't seem to matter. Any suggestions?

string type? What arrows are you using? Draw length? Not everyone likes a straight grip either. I shoot Hill style just like any other bow, but I prefer a locator type grip. I don't do anything special and shoot them like any other bow and it works fine. We need more info from you though. Most folks start with arrows way too stiff that won't flex enough for bows not close to center.

You didn't say if it's the same woodies and carbons you shoot well with your other bows, and if your other bows is the same draw weight as your Miller longbow. It could very well be that arrows is not the right spine for your ASL. Then again, as George stated, Not everyone likes a straight grip. Hope you can get it dialed in.

find some one at a shoot in your area that shoots an ASL and shoot with them slightly bent elebow and heel of griping hand down -slightly more to the side little more squeeze with the ring and pinky fingers

grab like grabbing a cordless power drill

6 1/4 brace might be beter too I tend to get a smoother feel with a low streech string also

I agree with Andy that your brace is too low. 6 1/4inches would work much better. Is your bow all bamboo or is it glass backed? Regardless, I agree with others as well that you will likely need to go to a lighter spine.

That is a LOW BRACE HEIGHT ! All of my longbows are braced at 6 1/2-6 3/4" I don't even brace my self bows that low!

I was thinking the same thing . 5.5" sounds really low.

How far out did you try raising your brace height?

More details are needed to get the proper suggestions you're looking for.

Then again, you said you're not comfortable with a straight grip. Maybe that's your problem.

If David has suggested 5.5" then I would not go more than a 1/2" above or below that. I would use arrows in the 40/49# AMO spine cut 28" with a 125-145gr point. Start your nock point at about 1/8" above square MEASURED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ARROW. if you nock under the nock point place it on top of the arrow. Get your heal down on the handle and a little bend to the elbow, and push the bow to the target. give it some time, there is a learning curve.

Bob

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Great feedback. I’ll try bumping up the brace height and give it a try.. Draw length is 27”. Yes, the bow is all bamboo, no glass. I’ve only tried raising the BH yo 6 so far. I’m using 28” cedars, 35-40 spine...

As Bob says, 125’s and 45-49’s if you’re going 28” BOP, or 40-44’s if you go 27” BOP. The sweet spot is at 6 1/8” and again at 5 7/8”. I know that stick well ;) It will feel and sound different than your R/D bows, but give it time and you’ll fall head over heels. That bow turned lots of heads at shoots for its beauty and how quiet it shot.

Aside from brace height and tuning issues, I find that I shoot more accurate / consistant if I concentrate on keeping some bend in my elbow...I think it helps me prevent torqueing and aids in even pressure with that type of grip. What I love about my HH bows is the lightness (less mass) and quick, natural feel. However, the less mass can magnify torquing or bow arm movement issues.

You also didn't mention what HAT you got. Helps you relax and have fun

I just pick them up and shoot them like any other bow. The design of the grip itself induces enough natural bend in the elbow.

Find the right brace height, the right arrow, and don't try to fight the grip and there's nuthin' to it.

Thanks everyone, will give it a try and keep working on it. I appreciate the suggestions and feedback very much!

A little update...I moved up the brace height to between 6 1/8 and 6 1/4 and it is behaving much better. I am shooting carbons, 600 spine with 145 gr tips, at 28" and those seem to sound and fly much better. I also tried canting the bow as opposed to my regular straight north and south shooting. It seems better. A whole new way of shooting I guess.

Lefty....make sure that canting the bow isn't covering up some sort of issue. Sometimes that happens. You should be able to shoot the bow canted, vertical or any other way.

It never hurts to use a heavier arrow. My 40# Hill bow loves 50-55 # spine cedars was and weights of 350 gr and145 gr points. No vibration and hits the target hard .. 1916 Legacies with 145 up front work just as well. Do not choke the grip ever When shooting a Hill bow....

I would buy David Millers book titled Shooting the American semi longbow. It has all the info you need. If you follow his instructions to the last detail it should help. Good luck. Davids bows are top of the line, David is one of the best bowyers out there and was taught by John Schulz who was taught by Howard himself.

Just wondering, the Ekin's are the only ones with the Howard Hill Archery name and built bows for Hill in the fifties. Why are they not mentioned and cited the same or more than Schultz?

Probably because they don't have a book or video to sell. Craig is devoted to building high quality bows and paraphenalia, and he's very good at it. I visited Craig at his shop quite a few years ago. (I'm, sure he wouldn't remember me from Adam.) Regardless, he knows how to shoot a Hill style bow. Just not a self promoter that way.

Orion, that’s a cheap shot and inaccurate as well. Craig is a very nice man, and I think he would agree.

Good question Larry

I never understood all the fuss over brace height and could never tell any difference between low or high brace height OTHER than how hard the string hits my wrist. I have always shot my Hill longbows with at least 6 1/2 inch brace height...I prefer it higher...I like dished grips...Straight grip can feel odd for a while but you get used to it. I shoot every bow pretty much the same! How the grip is made determines how it sets in your hand...

Back when Ted Ekins owned HHA after the Shawnee archery days, he never built a bow. Ted never built a bow before then either. It was all farmed out. Ted convinced Schulz to move to Montana to build bows for HHA in fact. That's how Schulz got there. Craig came aboard after Schulz and Ted parted ways a few years earlier.

The Ekins got the legal rights to the Howard Hill name for archery purposes. No need to promote anything other, the name was enough.

I thought Craig's father and uncle were partners with Howard Hill in the original Hill archery business. Eventually, Craig's father moved the bow building to Hamilton and continued until his passing. Craig's mother continued the business by subcontracting the bowyer work to such folks as John Schulz, Ted and Lee Kramer and Tim Meigs. Eventually, Craig took over and has been building the bows for a long time now.

I think Larry is right as that's what I read.

Lefty, a few things here.

For one, if you're not already canting, don't take it up just so you can shoot one bow. Make the bow work for you not vice versa.

Also, despite the two bows being "close" odds are that you have a tuning issue. SO much so that playing with brace height alone isn't going make the Hill shoot the same identical arrow as the Miller.

Run an actual tuning process such as seen here:

https://www.fenderarchery.com/blogs/archery-info/basic-tuning

That's right Larry, they we're partner's with Hill but didn't build bows. They did work on the shop with arrows and marketing though. Back then the Stotler boys, John and Dan Schulz, Don Burdett, Martin Akmakjian, and maybe someone I forgot built the bows. When Ted moved to Montana he needed someone to build bows so got John Schulz to move there. When they parted ways, Ted got Tim Meigs and the Kramers to build bows. When Ted passed, Betty kept it going with those guys and eventually Craig took over.

Like to hear the history as it was and as we should remember. How you shoot a Hill bow is personal and there is no certain way to do it.

You might want to experiment with different ways of gripping the bow and how it effects your arrow flight. That can effect accuracy as much as spine,

You might want to experiment with different ways of gripping the bow and how it effects your arrow flight. That can effect accuracy as much as spine,

Watch the Schulz videos on youtube, Get his book "Hitting Em Like Howard Hill, get Jerry Hill's book too and just dont over analyze things, be faithful to it and give it some time and you will do well.

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